Question & AnswerQ&A (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 996)
The main purpose of Presidential Decree No. 996 is to provide for compulsory basic immunization for infants and children below eight years of age to protect them against death, disease, and disability through an integrated immunization program.
Infants and children below eight years of age are covered under the basic immunization mandate of PD No. 996.
Basic immunization services under PD No. 996 include BCG vaccination against tuberculosis, inoculation against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, oral poliomyelitis immunization, protection against measles, immunization against rubella, and other basic immunizations recommended by the Council for the Welfare of Children to the Secretary of Health.
The Department of Health is responsible for implementing the basic immunization program under PD No. 996.
Yes, the Department of Health shall provide free basic immunization services to infants and children under this Decree.
It is the duty of parents, guardians, or persons having custody of infants or children to ensure that such infants or children are presented for basic immunization services at the place and time specified by the Department of Health.
Heads of schools or institutions where children are educated, treated, cared for, or committed by law must provide basic immunization services or make arrangements with the Department of Health for free immunization services.
All public and private schools are required to provide basic immunization services to all pre-school and primary school entrants who have not received such immunization, subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Health.
Violations of any provision of PD No. 996 shall be punished by imprisonment not exceeding one month or a fine not exceeding two hundred pesos, or both, at the discretion of the court, unless a higher penalty is provided under the Revised Penal Code or special laws.
Yes, PD No. 996 has a repealing clause which states that all laws or parts of laws inconsistent with its provisions are repealed or modified accordingly.